Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 22701

Zip code 22701 in Culpeper, VA is home to six public elementary schools serving grades PK through 5 within Culpeper County Public Schools, collectively enrolling 3,774 students and showcasing a wide range of academic outcomes across a single community.

For parents, the standout schools in this area are A.G. Richardson Elementary and Emerald Hill Elementary. A.G. Richardson is the highest-ranked school in the zip code (66th percentile statewide) and posts the best 5th grade science and 4th grade VA Studies scores, along with near-top math and reading averages. Emerald Hill is the most improved school, climbing from the 44th to the 65th percentile in two years; it also leads the group in reading proficiency (72.8%) and has the lowest chronic absenteeism (11.2%) and lowest per-student spending ($9,317). Pearl Sample Elementary is a high-poverty success story: despite an 82.4% free/reduced lunch rate and the highest absenteeism (18.6%), it achieves the highest math average (83.3%) and a remarkable 92.4% 5th grade math proficiency. At the other end, Sycamore Park Elementary and Farmington Elementary rank in the 16th and 18th percentiles respectively, with reading averages near 52-55% and math averages around 60-65%.

Several key patterns emerge. The two lowest-poverty schools are the top performers, while the two highest-poverty schools are the lowest performers — but Pearl Sample breaks that pattern by outperforming Yowell Elementary, which has much lower poverty. Spending more does not guarantee results: Farmington spends the most ($11,601 per student) and has the smallest classes, yet remains near the bottom, while Emerald Hill spends the least and excels. Overall, all six schools stay below the district average for chronic absenteeism, and 4th grade appears to be a notable bright spot, with reading and math scores often exceeding 3rd and 5th grade levels. The bottom line is that within the same district and zip code, families will find dramatically different school experiences, from strong, efficient performers like A.G. Richardson and Emerald Hill to struggling schools in need of targeted support.